Samuel Gottschall

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Samuel Gottschall (1800–1898) was an American fraktur artist.

Born into a family of teachers, Gottschall was a resident of the Mennonite community of Franconia, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob Gottschall, was a preacher and bishop as well as a sometime teacher; with his students he produced books of musical notation. Three of Samuel's siblings were educators as well; one, Martin, also produced fraktur. Neither of the two signed his work, and it is difficult to tell the two apart; their paintings have become popular among collectors because of the colors and imagery employed in their creation. Neither of the two men married; they worked as millers after the end of their teaching careers,[1] operating a property on Perkiomen Creek in Salford.[2] Samuel was a weaver as well, and among his surviving documents are his weaver's record book and weather diary, both of which have proven instrumental in identifying his work.[1]

Surviving frakturs from Gottschall date to the years 1833 to 1836, and do not appear to postdate his teaching career.[2] Several of his works are in the collection of the Mennonite Heritage Center.[3] Others are owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art,[4] the Free Library of Philadelphia[5][6][7] and the American Folk Art Museum.[8] Gottschall's style inspired other artists, including John Derstine Souder.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Gerard C. Wertkin (2 August 2004). Encyclopedia of American Folk Art. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-95614-1.
  2. ^ a b "Samuel Gottschall". David Wheatcroft Antiques. Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.
  3. ^ "Godshall, Samuel K., 1808-1898 - Gottschall, Samuel K." mennoniteheritagecenter.pastperfectonline.com. Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections : Search Collections". www.philamuseum.org. Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.
  5. ^ "Digital Collections: Bookplate (Bücherzeichen)". Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.
  6. ^ "Digital Collections: Drawing (Adam and Eve)". Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.
  7. ^ "Digital Collections: Flee from sin (Fleuch von Sünde)". Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.
  8. ^ Brooklyn United. "Artworks - Self-Taught Genius". selftaughtgenius.org. Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.
  9. ^ "Blog: John Derstine Souder's Fraktur in the Henry Stauffer Borneman Pennsylvania German Collection". Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved Apr 10, 2019.